Golfing in Melbourne
Golf and Melbourne go together like a birdie putt finds the hole. With a local population devoted to golf, the Victorian capital is home to Royal Melbourne, more than a dozen of Australia's top 100 courses, the famed 'sandbelt' region in the south-eastern suburbs and some of the nation's best public links. The leading courses offer year-round, high-quality play and are located mainly in the sand belt.
The jewel is Royal Melbourne, Australia's number one course and the city's golfing showpiece. The Alister Mackenzie design incorporates two classic 18-hole layouts featuring deep rough, strategically placed bunkers and fast, true greens.
All sandbelt clubs are private clubs, but if a golfer is a member of an international golf club that has reciprocal membership, then it is possible to play on some of these courses. Golf tour operators can also access some of the private sandbelt courses, provided players meet clubs' strict requirements.
There are many other public and private courses located close to the city that are well maintained. They range from resort-style layouts through to challenging suburban courses. Many have public access and cater for all handicaps and levels of experience. So don't leave home without your golf clubs when you come to Melbourne, as you will be spoilt for choice.
Sandbelt clubs:
Commonwealth
Glennie Avenue, South Oakleigh
Ph 03 9575 0444
Par 73; 6,380 metres
A memorable finishing stretch of holes with plenty of variety in design. Extensive tree plantation program places a premium on straight driving. Probably the grandest clubhouse on the sand belt, with majestic views across the final fairway and green surrounded by majestic bunkering. Last hosted the Australian Open in 1967.
Huntingdale
Windsor Avenue, South Oakleigh
Ph 03 9579 4622
Par 72; 6,367 metres
A memorable finishing stretch of holes with plenty of variety in design. Home to the Australian Masters. Over the tournament's 25-year history, all of the game's greats have walked the Huntingdale fairways. The course has been remarkably improved by a recent course rebuild, with even the sternest critics applauding the alterations.
Kingston Heath
Kingston Road, Cheltenham
Ph 03 9551 1955
Par 72; 6,336 metres
Australia's number 2 ranked course. An Alister Mackenzie masterpiece featuring sculptured bunkers and unforgettable par threes. On the 15th, players face a semi-blind shot to a green with challenging undulations. Hosted seven Australian Opens, seven Australian Match Plays, two Tournament Players Championships and seven Victorian Opens. Australasian host for the British Open qualifying event in 2004.
Metropolitan
Golf Road, South Oakleigh
Ph 03 9579 3122
Par 72; 6,345 metres
In 1930 Walter Hagen said Metro was 'by far the finest course I've played in Australia'. Host of seven Australian Opens, five Australian PGAs and the 2001 US PGA Tour WGC Matchplay Championship. Acclaimed as having the best fairway turf in the country - in 2001 Stuart Appleby said, 'It was better conditioned than Augusta!' Improvements in the mid-90s included additional length and bunkers, making this a testing championship layout.
Peninsula
Skye Road, Frankston
Ph 03 9789 2222
South course – par 72; 6,318 metres
North course – par 72; 6,032 metres
Two excellent layouts ranked in the nation's top 50. The North course was recently renovated to rave reviews. The addition of classic sand-belt bunkering and heath-land grasses has transformed the layout. The sixth, once a quirky short par four, now has huge bunkers in diagonal formation, offering shot choices that can vary up to 60 metres. The South course is long and difficult and has hosted several national championships. On-site accommodation is available.
Royal Melbourne
Cheltenham Road, Black Rock
Ph 03 9598 6755
East course par 72; 6,030 metres
West course par 72; 6,023 metres
Composite layout long ranked in the world's top 10. Designed by legendary architect Alister Mackenzie, it features all the elements of strategic design that make it both challenging for professionals and playable for amateurs. The 10th hole on the West course measures less than 300 metres, yet remains one of the more inspirational tee shots. A cavernous bunker protects the green and dictates club selection.
Victoria
Park Road, Cheltenham
Ph 03 9584 1733
Par 72; 6,174 metres
The scene of many great tournaments with a list of credits including two Australian Opens in the past 25 years. Fairways flow through avenues of gums and undulations lined with tea-tree. Extensive bunkering surrounds an exceptional collection of elevated greens and the design incorporates a number of blind drives that land on down-slopes. The clubhouse offers first-class accommodation with play-and-stay packages.
Yarra Yarra
567 Warrigal Road, Bentleigh East
Ph 03 9563 7711
Par 72; 6,102 metres
Played host to many big national events including the Australian Open for women and the men's PGA title. Another Russell-Mackenzie design featuring large greens that provide a true challenge in hot weather. The incredible 11th hole - a long uphill par three to a notorious green
with heavy fortification - is perhaps the most difficult one-shotter in the country. The approach to the crested fifth green is also a standout.
Other Melbourne courses:
Albert Park
Queens Road, Melbourne
Ph 03 9510 5588
Par 72; 5,743 metres
Right under the nose of the city. The course sits alongside parts of the Grand Prix track and the Queens Road business precinct. Golfers get to hit shots with stunning backdrops of the city skyline among a landscape dominated by mature elm trees. The 15th is one of the new holes built on acquired land. Bunkers left and right at the front of the green narrow the landing area.
Brighton
Dendy Street, Brighton
Ph 03 9592 1388
Par 67; 4,885 metres
Set in a wealthy part of Melbourne, surrounded by multi million dollar homes. The bayside course south-east of town has been reworked at great expense, with a new water feature behind the first green. Players must also carry this hazard when hitting a shot to the par three eighth. Not a long course, but several new bunkers add to the challenge on approach shots. The uphill third is tough from the back tees.
Cheltenham
Victor Avenue, Cheltenham
Ph 03 9583 6419
Par 70; 5,505 metres
Somewhat of a hidden gem in the heart of the sand belt. It features an outstanding par three hole that matches up with all the best one-shotters. The couch fairways are in magnificent order. Hole designs require straight tee shots, good wedge play and an ability to handle sloping greens. This nine-hole course, with a loyal band of members, is next door to Victoria Golf Club.
Growling Frog
Donnybrook Road, Yan Yean
Ph 03 9217 2157
Par 72; 6,200 metres
This Graham Marsh designed course is nestled alongside stately river gums that reflect the character of the Victorian landscape. Fairway widths are quite generous to maintain the flow of play. There is an absence of unnecessary hazards but shallow bunkering with sand faces provides a strategic element that is quite effective in dictating the driving lines. Greens are gently undulating in keeping with the site's natural topography.
Hidden Valley
189 Hidden Valley Boulevard, Wallan
Ph 03 5783 0200
Par 72; 6,515 metres
Is the best water carry course in Victoria. Recent design changes instigated by Craig Parry have transformed parts of the back nine in Victoria's answer to 'Amen Corner' at Augusta. Clever new tee placements on the 13th and 15th holes force a double water carry to reach the green. Then there's the famous island green to negotiate at the last hole.
Kingston Links
Corporate Avenue, Rowville
Ph 03 9764 4222
Par 72; 6,178 metres
The first purpose-built 'pay for play' course in Victoria, positioned near the demographic centre of Melbourne and close to the old AFL Park. Built its reputation through a dedicated focus on hosting corporate golfers midweek and social players on the weekend. Water influences the line on many shots but fairways are generous enough. Look forward to arriving at the 16th, a risk-reward short par four with plenty of options from the tee.
Sanctuary Lakes
Point Cook Road, Point Cook
Ph 03 9394 9444
Par 72; 6,489 metres
A spectacular Greg Norman course. Twists and turns through gentle undulations just over the Westgate Bridge from the CBD. A lake threatens players over the closing holes as they head towards the plush clubhouse. The Shark's signature hole is the 18th, an intimidating par four with water on the left and an island-like green. Tough hole locations on the oversize greens put a premium on putting throughout the round.
Sandringham
Cheltenham Road, Cheltenham
Ph 03 9598 3590
Par 70; 5,646 metres
Ideally positioned in one of the city's trendy bayside suburbs. Across the road from Royal Melbourne, with several holes on the back nine exhibiting similar characteristics to its world-famous neighbour. The signature final hole is a cracker, with only a pinpoint drive earning players a shot at a flag set up on a plateau green.
Settlers Run Golf & Country Club
Settlers Run Avenue, Cranbourne South
Ph 03 9785 6072
Par 72; 6,607 metres
Designed by Greg Norman, Settlers Run is Victoria's latest 18 hole championship golf course and residential community. The picturesque course has been designed in harmony with the areas undulating landscape and surrounding natural wetlands. For practical reasons and flexibility, the course can be played from a variety of tee positions and set up to suit the skill level of the invited players.
Spring Valley
Graham Road, Clayton South
Ph 03 9562 3811
Par 71; 6,161 metres
Studded with many dogleg holes that create trouble by visually narrowing the landing area. Drives need to tiptoe alongside the defining fairway hazard in order to earn an easier approach to greens fiercely guarded by beautiful bunkering. The tee shot on four is a case in point, with a bunker angled diagonally at the elbow of the dogleg tempting golfers to take on the carry in a bid to shorten the hole.
The Sandhurst Club
Thompsons Road, Skye
Ph 03 8787 7022
Par 72; 6,478 metres
Two courses are planned for Sandhurst. The completed North course, designed by Peter Thomson's company, is a championship layout with Scottish links features. The Champions course, when finished, will have a parkland
feel. Sandhurst will be the new headquarters of the Australian PGA, with championships slated for the North course after 2006. The development is 'drought proof', thanks to the largest recycled water program in Melbourne.
Woodlands
White Street, Mordialloc
Ph 03 9580 3455
Par 72; 6,051 metres
Famous for small, hard and fast greens that place a premium on iron play and putting. Greenside bunkering is well manicured and the couch fairways are tree lined. Features an outstanding array of short holes, particularly a couple of drive and pitch par fours common to all great golf courses. The club has hosted many high-profile events such as the Victorian Open, Victorian PGA and state amateur championships.
Yarra Bend
Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield
Ph 03 9481 3729
Par 70; 5,538 metres
A pretty setting and more challenging than the average public course. Cross slopes on many holes feed the ball into run-off areas, which in some cases are the bank of the Yarra River. Aiming posts are set into some fairways to help alignment on 'blind' tee shots that are a feature of the layout very popular with Melburnians. Parrots, ducks and other native fauna are a feature of this course.
